HomeMy WebLinkAbout12.01.2022 SWAC Minutes JEFFERSON COUNTY
Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC)
Meeting Minutes
Thursday, Dec. 01, 2022, 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Public Works Office, 623 Sheridan St., Port Townsend, WA
Remote attendance available by:
Zoom Meeting ID 93595749934 (Passcode 499738) OR
call 253-215-8782 Meeting ID 935 9574 9934
OPENING BUSINESS
Meeting agenda posted on website on Nov. 23, 2022.
Audio and Video recordings of the meeting can be accessed here. Timestamps in the recording are shown
in red below.
Roll Call and Introductions – Lisa Crosby, Chair (0:00:00)
Committee Members Present:
Lisa Crosby, Chair & District #1 Greg Brotherton, County Commissioner
Bart Kale, Citizen at Large Tracy Grisman, District #1
Tim Deverin, District #3 Glenn Gately, Conservation District
Alysa Thomas, Skookum Brian Tate, Waste Connection
Committee Members Absent
Jenifer Taylor, District #2 Steve King, City of Port Townsend
Staff Present
Al Cairns, Solid Waste Manager Chris Spall, Public Works Support Staff
Laura Tucker, Public Health, Education and Outreach
Guests/Visitors: David Pater, WA State Dept. of Ecology,
Quorum Determination: There is a quorum. (0:00.00)
Public Comment: None (0:00.00)
Approval/Correction of Draft Minutes for 7/28/2022 meeting. (0:00:14)
Bart moved, Tim seconded, and motion carried to approve the July 28 minutes as written.
Correspondence received for discussion: None
Committee Reports – No standing committees at this time (0:01:09)
Staff reports (0:01:26)
Al showed the 12/22 Staff Report on his computer screen and there were questions and discussion about:
• Rollout of new hours for the public (closed Mondays) at the Transfer Station that started Tuesday,
November 15, 2022. First day had longer wait times (30 min. average) but by late Wednesday operations
were back to normal. During the Tipping Scale replacement project, a lot was learned about using the
temporary wall to our advantage. Benefit of being closed on Mondays is that staff can get ahead of
maintenance, which saves the operation money, and now there is a day to train staff.
• Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) event in Hadlock. Clean Harbors was contracted to run the event at
the County Road Shop in Hadlock. Eight attendants managed two lanes of traffic with wait times and
processing times averaging 30 minutes and 5 minutes respectively. There were a lot of happy customers,
so these events are a good way to deliver HHW disposal. These events help address the service delivery
equity issue for residents from Brinnon and Quilcene.
• Use of temporary tipping floor. During peak times divert some customers to the temporary floor to relieve
congestion. Customers with trailers that are not self-dumping can be sent to the temporary tipping floor to
prevent backup on the main tipping floor. Limiting factor at the Transfer Station has been the floor space
and how long it takes customers to unload. A lot of customer loads are under the 120-pound weight limit
for the $10 minimum fee. The minimum fee is a demand management tool meant to encourage fewer trips
with heavier loads or subscription to curbside collection. Our minimum fee has been the same since 2014.
Raising it closer to the $21 regional average would help discourage trips with small loads. Kitsap is about
to go to $41 minimum fee. When that happens, we will see more customers from Kitsap County. Bringing
our minimum fee closer to the $21 regional average would discourage out of County residents.
Al brought up one item not on the report. Staff is working with Kitsap County on an interlocal agreement for
Household Hazardous waste disposal from our residents under certain circumstances. We will be invoiced by
Kitsap County when they provide that service. Expect to have this for approval by BoCC in January
OLD BUSINESS
None
NEW BUSINESS (0:24:26)
1. Introduction of new Waste Connections representative (tentative) – Chad Young no longer with
Waste Connections. Tom Rupert is the Interim Manager. No word on when there will be a permanent
replacement.
2. Adoption of 2023 meeting schedule – In the June 2022 revisions to the by-laws a regular meeting
schedule was established. According to this schedule, 2023 meeting dates will be January 26, March 23,
May 26, July 27, September 28, and December 7. Tracy motioned to approve next year’s calendar, Tim
seconded the motion, and the motion was carried. Discussion about future meetings being hybrid with in-
person and remote access. New OPMA guidelines requires a physical location be listed for meetings.
3. Partner Updates (0:34:49)
a. Skookum (Alysa Thomas) – OCC market level now. Pricing for OCC has leveled off, between
$50-70 a ton. Plastics still at rock bottom. Domestic paper markets flat, but still able to move our
paper. Huge drop off in quantity of paper recycling. Glass is the same, a load to Seattle every
Monday, and still at $15/ton. Shopping for a new primary hook truck. Ordered a new skid steer.
Biggest issue employee health. Have two drivers and if something happens to either one we are in
a bind. No drop in contamination levels since changing the plastics we accept. Laura will be
doing another contamination audit in June and new flyers in PUD bills in January and February.
Lisa asked how much lost revenue for aluminum due to it being baled with plastic. Alysa said
there is a revenue loss. Hard to get pure aluminum product to bail. The way Skookum collects it is
not possible.
b. Waste Connections/Olympic Disposal (Brian Tate) –No updates.
c. City solid waste/recycling/composting (Bliss Morris) – No representative attending
d. A.I.R.E. program (Tracy Grisman) – Working on launch of call for artists. An announcement
will be in the Local 20/20 this Monday or the following week, for a call for artists for June thru
August with a weekend show in September. Had a great fall and love working with the crew at
the Transfer Station. Al asked Tracy about meeting in January to talk about the mural project for
the side of the Recycling building. Want to get estimates to include as part of upcoming grant
opportunities.
4. Future Agenda Items (0:46:09)
Suggestions given:
• David Pater said other SWACs have had experts from Ecology present on topics such as the new
organics management act. He can provide contact info for this. David Pater said this will be his
last SWAC meeting. He has taken a position with the Dept of Commerce, which he starts in a
few weeks. He complimented the SWAC on their knowledge and engagement.
• Greg suggested field trips to landfills and MRFs
• Laura happy to give an update on the work being done for the grant with Dept. of Ecology.
• Introduction and overview by Public Health on their abatement program.
• Bart suggested having a joint meeting or at least an update on synergies with Clallam County.
ADJOURNMENT (1:00:20)
Meeting adjourned at 4:06 pm. Greg moved to adjourn the meeting and all seconded the motion.
Next Meeting Date: January 26.
2023 Regular Meeting Dates
Thursday, January 26
March 23
May 25
July 27
September 28
December 7